Norman Rockwell was one of the lucky people that knew exactly what to do and had the talent to do it. At age 14, Rockwell enrolled in art classes at The New York School of Art (formerly The Chase School of Art), and was commissioned his first piece: a design for a Christmas card. And now, almost a century later, his work is displayed in the Houston Museum of Fine Arts. That’s a long way from Christmas cards, isn’t it?

Now, I grew up in the museum district, so I’ve seen my fair share of art over the years. And in my experience, I’ve found that with art exhibits, it’s a hit or miss with how captivating they are. And as much as I hate to say it, this exhibit was a miss. I am by no means an art critic, but speaking from the standpoint of the average museum goer, it didn’t leave a lasting impression on me like some art exhibits have in the past.

The pieces displayed in The American Freedom exhibit are works from Norman ROckwell throughout the years, and from what I can tell, he had no significant style changes. Now, this is not to say his art wasn’t extraordinary. He blends colors masterfully, and all of his pieces have a delightful realism about them. He uses sharp, clean lines, and the stories they convey are clear and interesting. However, the coloring of the pieces do leave a bit to be desired. The dull earth tones fit the mood of the pieces, but after a long walk of seeing the same style, it starts to get tedious. As interesting as his story is, I would say this exhibit missed the mark.